Professor E. Gadd

“Ooof... I sure take a lot of knocks in this line of work. I'm getting too old for this ghost-catching tomfoolery. Anyway, nice to meet you. I'm Professor E. Gadd.”

—Professor Elvin Gadd, Luigi's Mansion

Professor Elvin Gadd, often shortened to Professor E. Gadd or simply E. Gadd, is the scientist first appearing in Luigi's Mansion and founder of Gadd Science, Incorporated. He always makes ambiguous gibberish sounds when speaking (supplied by Kazumi Totaka, who took inspiration from Animal Crossing's "Animalese" when inventing the voice^[1]), and he frequently uses phrases such as "criminy," "hullabaloo," etc. His name comes from the archaic exclamation "egad," something that one says in surprise.

History

Background

In his past, E. Gadd lived on the foothills of the Thwomp Volcano, as depicted in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. The Mario Bros. go back in time and end up saving his lab from burning down when fire blocks erupted from the Thwomp Volcano. He then helps the Mario Bros. by inspiring his older present self to create the Hydrogush 4000; as the Mario Bros. are in the present, he starts to get the idea for the device, which transfers to his future self. The present-day Professor E. Gadd uses the Hydrogush 4000 to send water through via Time Hole and calm the erupting Thwomp Volcano. Afterwards, the twenty-year-old E. Gadd moves to Boo Woods, where he would later study ghosts.^[2] In order to get funding for his ghost research, E. Gadd also started a cafe franchise called Starbeans Cafe.^[3]

Luigi's Mansion series

Luigi's Mansion

Many decades later, in Luigi's Mansion, Luigi enters the mansion and is saved from ghosts by Professor E. Gadd wielding the Poltergust 3000. The professor reveals that he lives in a house near the mansion, where he researches his favorite subject: ghosts. Luigi explains his brother Mario is missing within the house, and the professor decides to help Luigi by giving him the Poltergust 3000 and the Game Boy Horror. The professor continues to help Luigi throughout the game, giving him help and tips.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

After a few years of absence, Professor E. Gadd appears in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. In the game, E. Gadd takes up residence in Evershade Valley after learning that the ghosts there are friendly. Eager to examine ghosts without fear of being attacked by them, he sets up a laboratory in the Gloomy Manor and a Bunker close by the mansion. There, he begins researching the ghosts of the five mansions that populate the valley, and sends his five Toad assistants to the other four mansions in the valley to examine the ghosts there. At first, the resident ghosts welcome him and assist him in his lab, but when King Boo arrives and destroys the ghost-pacifying Dark Moon that hangs over Evershade Valley, the ghosts start running amok and destroy E. Gadd's equipment. He flees to his nearby Bunker and enlists the help of Luigi — who has now taken up residence in his new Grade D mansion from the previous game — to help rebuild the Dark Moon and calm the ghosts once more. E. Gadd was later revealed to have been unintentionally and indirectly responsible for King Boo's return, as he had sold his portrait in a garage sale (a car boot sale in the British English version), thus ensuring his escape.

In this game, E. Gadd has made an upgrade of his Poltergust 3000 from the last game: the Poltergust 5000. This new Poltergust uses a Strobulb to stun ghosts, rather than the flashlight used with the Poltergust 3000. Professor E. Gadd also introduces three new inventions: the Pixelator, a machine that turns Luigi into pixels and transports him to and from the different mansions, the Dual Scream, a device that resembles a Nintendo DS and is capable of communication, and the Dark-Light Device, which allows Luigi to see invisible objects. He doesn't leave the Bunker until the end of the game, directly after beating King Boo.

Luigi's Mansion Arcade

E. Gadd has a similar role in Luigi's Mansion Arcade to that of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, in that he communicates with Luigi while the latter explores the mansions, and offers a tutorial to the player upon starting the game.

Luigi's Mansion 3

E. Gadd returns in Luigi's Mansion 3. Having been tricked by Hellen Gravely into coming to the The Last Resort, E. Gadd is trapped in a painting and his ghost collection, including King Boo, is released. He is later saved by Luigi, who escaped a similar trap and borrowed the Poltergust G-00 from E. Gadd's car in the hotel's basement. E. Gadd initially attempts to flee the hotel, but when Luigi insists on staying to save his captured friends, E. Gadd relents. After setting up his portable lab in the basement, E. Gadd gives Luigi the Virtual Boo for communication purposes.^[4] He later has Gooigi accompany Luigi throughout the hotel. He also uses the lab to provide a safe haven for the saved Toads.

Towards the end of the game, King Boo attacks Professor E. Gadd's lab, and traps him and everyone else in a single painting. Luigi was saved from this by Polterpup, and he manages to recapture King Boo and free all his friends. He also offers to help the ghosts rebuild the then-recently destroyed Last Resort complex, providing construction hard-hats to Luigi and some of the ghosts (although a Hammer obliviously eats his). After the hotel is rebuilt, Professor E. Gadd stays behind with Gooigi and the ghosts while everyone else departs.

Super Mario series

Super Mario Maker

E. Gadd makes an appearance in Super Mario Maker as a Mystery Mushroom costume for Mario when using the Super Mario Bros. theme. The costume can be unlocked by completing the Event Course Paranormal Research.

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, the professor makes an appearance supplying the brothers with an array of accessories to help them along their way each time they drink at Starbeans Cafe, a juice shop that he owns. However, it has been found that originally, the game was only going to feature Professor E. Gadd once, the first time Mario and Luigi get a drink; in all of the future times, different characters would have appeared. These characters are Wario, Samus Aran, Fox McCloud, Link, an Excitebike racer, and Captain Olimar.

While Professor E. Gadd reprises his role as the Starbeans Cafe owner in the remake of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, he also shows up during the Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser side story. Here, he is found in a cave by Bowser's minions, claiming to have followed ghosts when he fell in. E. Gadd begins talking to Bowser's minions about his research, and says he is also working on a time-travel device, a nod to the original main story's sequel.

Reactions to the drinks

The professor has many different reactions for each time a new drink is made at Starbeans Cafe, usually accompanied with a humorous scene.

• The first reaction gives a reference to Luigi's Mansion when the new brew attracts a Ghost from the game, which scares Luigi, but the professor comes in with the Poltergust 3000, and sucks it up. The professor explains that he owns the Cafe, and that each time he samples a new brew, he will give a gift to the Bros. He samples the brew and gifts to them the Greed Wallet.
• The second reaction has the professor drawn in by the smell of the drink, and samples a flavor. He then gives the Bros. the Bonus Ring. The professor then has a major reaction to the very "Strong Brew" and asks the bartender where the bathroom is. The Bartender replies that he had never built one. Luigi then rushes to get the Poltergust 3000 and sucks the professor in.
• The third reaction has him on a Poltergust 3001, a rocket. He samples the drink and gives the Excite Spring before blasting away.
• The fourth has him on a giant Game Boy Horror. He sends a ghost as a representative for the sampling, much to Luigi's terror. After that, the ghost drops the Great Force.
• In the fifth reaction, he has the giant Game Boy Horror send the drink to him. He then gifts them the Power Grip in the original or Secret Specs in the remake. He promises to come in person.
• In the sixth reaction, E. Gadd comes wearing a suit that makes him a ghost. He samples the drink and gives the Cobalt Necktie. A terrified Luigi uses the Poltergust 3000 to suck the professor inside.
• In the final one, he samples the last drink and proclaims it the best one, much to his employee's annoyance. He gives the Bros. the Game Boy Horror SP. Before leaving, he hangs a photo of himself in the shop as a way to brighten one's spirits, which the employee labels dumb.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

E. Gadd has a much larger role in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, where the professor debuts his newest invention to the Mushroom Kingdom, a Time Machine in Peach's Castle. Princess Peach, accompanied by Toadiko and Toadbert, volunteers to be a passenger on its maiden voyage. However, when the time machine returns, it is not the trio that left but rather the Junior Shrooboid that emerges instead. After the bros. defeat it, Gadd places the creature inside a tube of fluid, keeping it alive and allowing him to study it.

Out in the courtyard, Mario and Luigi discover a hole in the ground; E. Gadd elaborates that this hole is a Time Hole, a rip in the time-space continuum, which was created by the use of the time machine. After Luigi falls in the hole and Mario heads in to save him, the professor sends Stuffwell, a sentient suitcase, through to help them. For most of the game, E. Gadd is seen studying the Junior Shrooboid defeated earlier.

At Thwomp Volcano, Mario, Luigi, and their baby counterparts come across and paradoxically meet a younger Professor Gadd, who is studying Thwomps. During this time, though, the volcano erupts, with several Thwomps falling in and destroying the laboratory. One threatens to explode, and must be put out; Baby Mario and Baby Luigi do this by having Baby Mario drink water and Baby Luigi hammering him to spit it at the Thwomp, dousing it. Witnessing this event in the past causes the present day E. Gadd's memories to be rearranged and inspires him to invent the Hydrogush 4000, a massive water pump. Mario and Luigi then have him pump water through the time hole leading to Thwomp Volcano to douse the mountain. After his lab is destroyed by the eruption of the volcano, young E. Gadd mentions his interests in studying ghosts, and that he would be buying a lab at the edge of Boo Woods, nodding toward his first appearance in Luigi's Mansion.

After discovering that baby tears are the Shroob's weakness, Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach relate this to the professor. E. Gadd then uses the Hydrogush to pump a liquid similar to Baby Luigi's tears through the time holes, removing the Shroobs and restoring any Shroobified characters. He also restores the Time Machine and uses it to bring everyone back to the future.

Mario Party series

A flashlight known as the Gaddlight was used to scare away Boos when they try to steal a Star or coins in Mario Party 4.

In Mario Party 5's Super Duel mode, several vehicle parts are designed by E. Gadd.

Professor E. Gadd's garage is a game board in Mario Party 6. When a player lands on a ? space on this board, E. Gadd appears and lets them try one of his inventions.

In Mario Party Advance, E. Gadd appears as the co-host of Play Land. The coins earned in the minigames can be used to buy Professor E. Gadd's many "Gaddgets".

A magic wand bearing Gadd's logo later appears in Mario Party 7.

Mario Kart series

E. Gadd's inventions are sometimes used as items in the Mario Kart series, along with Robo Mario from the arcade games.

Mario Kart DS

In Mario Kart DS, the Poltergust 4000 kart used by Luigi is based off of E. Gadd's Poltergust 3000 invention. There is evidence in the US demo prototype version he was going to be playable which would have been his first playable appearance, being replaced by Dry Bones in the final version.

Mario Kart Arcade GP series

E. Gadd makes a small cameo in Mario Kart Arcade GP as a statue in the background of the Diamond City course in the Wario Cup. His face, the logo of Gadd Science, appears on a building as well. This cameo carries over into the sequel, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2.

It is implied that E. Gadd is the creator of Robo Mario, as evidenced by the logo on Robo Mario's cap.

Super Smash Bros. series

E. Gadd makes a small cameo appearance in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS as a collectible trophy. The description of his trophy talks about his role within Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, describing the events of the Dark Moon being shattered, and the professor calling upon Luigi to aid him. E. Gadd is referred to by his full name - Professor Elvin Gadd - in American English, while the British English version has his first name abbreviated.

Additionally, E. Gadd appears as a spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as well as "EGADD" being one of the randomly generated names the player can receive.

Despite not appearing in any Super Smash Bros. titles until the fourth installment, E. Gadd is mentioned in the Vacuum Luigi trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the trophies for F.L.U.D.D. and the Poltergust 3000 in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the trophy representing the various Ghosts that appeared in Dark Moon in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Luigi's Final Smash trophy, the Poltergust 5000, in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Inventions

Boo Canister

A device created by E. Gadd with the aid of the Mario Bros. which is designed to contain captured Boos. It is stored in the Bunker's Vault.

DS time radar

A handheld device that bears a striking resemblance to a Nintendo DS used briefly by E. Gadd to find Princess Peach in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. It has the ability to pinpoint which time period someone is trapped in. One of the Toads thinks he just made it up. Also, when Professor E. Gadd turns on his Hydrogush 4000, he uses a DS-like device.

Dual Scream

An upgraded DS given to Luigi in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, that acts both as a communication device, and as a map of the area.

E. Gadd Battle Machine

Special parts that can be bought in the Super Duel Mode of Mario Party 5. They include the E. Gadd body, E. Gadd Jet, E. Gadd Engine and E. Gadd gun.

E. Gadd's Garage

E. Gadd's garage is the garage he had in Mario Party 6. He also keeps his numerous inventions there. It also appears as a Rare Mini-Game.

E-Gate

Electronic portals in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon that can be used to transport people and things from one place to another. Comes in a pair, but only one of them has a panel on the top that must be turned on with a Strobulb flash for both to be activated.

F.L.U.D.D.

The Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device, better known as F.L.U.D.D., is a water-spraying device used by Mario in Super Mario Sunshine. It is worn on Mario's back, and has various nozzle attachments which can be collected by breaking open boxes with E. Gadd's logo on the front. F.L.U.D.D. also has notable artificial intelligence and the ability to communicate with a voice.

Gaddgets

The Gaddgets appear in Mario Party Advance. There are 80 total, and are very similar to the toys in the WarioWare games.

Gaddlight

A flashlight that is used to scare away Boos when they try to steal a Star or coins in Mario Party 4.

Game Boy Horror

The Game Boy Horror is a portable device from Luigi's Mansion that bears a striking resemblance to the Game Boy Color containing a built-in camera which E. Gadd can use to watch the action from the safety of his lab and contact Luigi. It also stores data including a map and anything Luigi has collected, and contains a special radar called the Boo Radar to find hidden spherical objects.

Game Boy Horror SP

The Game Boy Horror SP is an upgraded version of the Game Boy Horror, given to Mario by E. Gadd in Mario & Luigi

Superstar Saga. It is another portable device, this time bearing a striking resemblance to a Game Boy Advance SP. It always gives the Bros. access to rare items in battle.

Ghost Container

A machine that holds the ghosts captured throughout Evershade Valley and the ScareScraper in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. It also provides research information on all captured ghosts including their spectral mass (weight).

Ghost Gown

A pale blue jacket that, when worn, turns characters into a ghost. When E. Gadd wore this in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Luigi got scared and used the Poltergust 3000 to vacuum him up.

Ghost Portrificationizer

The Ghost Portrificationizer is a large machine which works in conjunction with the Poltergust 3000. Certain ghosts captured can be entrapped in portraits to be hung in E. Gadd's gallery. The machine also works in reverse, which was utilized to free Mario from the painting he had been trapped in by King Boo. E. Gadd also commented that it took him twenty years to build.

Trivia

• In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, one of the names that can appear when a player presses the random button when naming their custom stage is "EGADD".
• Glasses with swirls that are often seen in Japanese media are a feature E. Gadd shares with Professor Frankly, Fawful, Francis, and Iggy Koopa.
• Occasionally, E. Gadd's voice-overs includes "Oyamaa", which is both his Japanese name and an exclamation of surprise. This happens even in overseas releases. He can also sometimes be heard saying "Luigi!" or "Mario!"
• Professor E. Gadd is one of the few characters in the franchise who existed prior to Nintendo's translating games and websites to Dutch, Portuguese, and Russian to receive a new name in said translations, as opposed to keeping his English name.
• If one views E. Gadd at a certain angle, it is shown that he has small dotted eyes.
• In Luigi’s Mansion 3, one of the poses E. Gadd strikes if flashed by the strobulb references Marilyn Monroe’s famous "white dress scene" in The Seven Year Itch. The back of his lab coat even flutters upward during the pose.